Horologic device for closing an electric circuit



Dec. 26, 1933. A. w. FOWLER 1,940,713

HOROLOGIC DEVICE FOR CLOSING AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT Filed NOV. 29, 1929 Fi5 1 F1 5- 3 which may be actuated through a. train of Patented Dec. 26, 1933 A UNITED; 511A PATENT OFFICE I f HOROLOGIC DEVICE FOR CLOSINGAN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT Arno w. Fowler, Highland, Ill.

Application November 29, 1929 I Serial N0. 410,402 I Y a ,2 Claims (crew-53s) This invention relates to mechanism operated by orin combination. with a clock to close an electric circuit, for the purpose of operating an alarm, or for other purposes where it is desired to have the circuit closed at a certain time.

One of the objects isto provide a mechanism of the class described which will be simple, efi'l- Further objects will appear from the detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the mechanism partly in section. 1

Fig. 2'is a front view of the mech nism with the face or dial of the clock removed.v

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4- 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear viewshowing the resetting dial and indicator.

Fig. 6 is a side view of connection' i The mechanism may include or be incombination with a clock of any ordinary construction. As illustrated, it includes the frame 1 upon which is mounted the shaft 2 carrying the pinion the cam-switch and gearing by a falling weight or an'expanding spring and regulated through an escapement by a pendulum or a balance. The shaft 2 carries the minute hand 4 and the pinion 5. The pinion 5 is in mesh with the gear 6 to which is attached the pinion 7 which engages the gear 8 to rotate the hour hand 9.

The timing mechanismincludes the shaft 10 carrying the gear 11 which is in mesh with the pinion '7. The gears 8 and 11 carry the same number of teeth so that the shaft 10 will operate in, synchronism with the hour hand ,9. The sleeve 12 is mounted about the shaft 10 and carries the cam element 13. The cam element 13 is constructed of' non-conductive material and is of the shape specifically shown in the drawing, Figs. 4 and 6, including thelstep 14. At the bottom of the step a conductor 15 is mounted transversely and parallel to the shaft 10. Be-

yond the conductor 15 is another step 16 and beyond the step 16 the periphery of the cam is somewhat in the formof an involute curve until the surface reaches the step 14. Cooperating with the cam surface are two spaced resilient brushes ll transversely of the cam axis. These brushes may be secured to a block 1801' non-conductive material by the screws 19 and connected to the circuit wires 20.

It will thus beseen that as the came1ement13 C0 is rotated in synchronism with the hour hand, when the cam is'in such position that the top of ,the step 14 passes the point of contact with the brushes 1'7, the brushes will fall upon the conductor 15 to close an electric circuit} Upon further rotation of the cam, the brushes will mo'veoff the conductor at the step 16. It will thus be noted that the movements both on and off the conductor are rapid, giving no chance for arcing between the conductor and the brushes. The shaft 10 isin frictional engagement with the sleeve 12 to such an extent as to carry the sleeve 12 with it in rotation, but insufficient to prevent the manual adjustment of the sleeve with respect to the shaft without interfering with the clock mechanism. This adjustment may be made by the knob 21 mounted on the end of the sleeve 12. The front of this knob may carry the dial 22, and the shaft 10 may carry the indicating pointer 23 to cooperate with the dial face 22. go It will be seen that by adjusting the knob 21 with respect to the indicator 23, the cam element will be adjusted with respect to the shaft 10, and thus with respect to the clock mechanism.

As illustrated in the drawing and as has been 35 specifically described, the conductor is so proportioned as to be in contact with the brushes for only a-comparatively short period of time. It is obvious, however, that'the conductor may be of appreciable-width and thus remain, according to any particular construction, in contact with the brushes over a considerable length of time in order to hold the circuit closed.-

It is'also noticed that in the construction, only one conductor is shown upon the shaft. It will be obvious that more than one conductor may be positioned on the cam element so as toclose the circuit more than once, or several times during the twelve-hour period. It is also obvious that by doubling the number of teeth on the gear 11, the shaft 10 will make a complete revolution only 'once in twenty-four hours instead of once in,

twelve hours, as shown in the drawing. Thus, the I circuit may be closed once per day instead of once eachtwelve hours; and the dial may, of 0 course, be changed to include twenty-four indications instead of twelve, thus permitting accurate setting of the cam.

When constructed as specifically illustrated in the drawing, the mechanism may be used for actu- 1'10 ating a signal in the giving of an alarm, but it is obvious that its uses may be extended to the closing of a circuit for any purpose where it is desired that such circuit be closed and opened at a particular time.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the details specifically shown and described, but various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 7

1. In a horologic device having a frame, a rotary shaft supported by said frame, a pinion attached to said shaft for rotation therewith, a gear wheel supported by said shaft for rotation at a different rate of speed than said shaft, and time indicating hands attached to said shaft and said pinion respectively at one side of said frame; a rotary shaft supported parallel with said first shaft, gearing for rotating said gear wheel and said second shaft simultaneously and at the same rate of speed by said pinion, a sleeve mounted on and having frictional engagement with said second shaft, an electric conductor mounted upon a non-conductive element fixed to said sleeve, a brush supported in position to be engaged by said electric conductor, a dial attached to the end of said sleeve at the opposite side of said frame from said hands, and a pointer attached to said shaft and cooperating with said dial,

whereby the position of the pointer with respect to the dial will indicate the time at which said conductor will engage said brush.

2. In a horologic device comprising a frame, a rotary shaft supported by said frame, a pinion attached to said shaft for rotation thereby, a gear wheel supported coaxially by said shaft for rotation at a different rate of speed than said shaft, and time indicating hands attached to and operated by said shaft and said pinion respectively at one side of said frame; a rotary shaft supported parallel with said first shaft, gearing operated by said pinion for rotating said gear wheel and said second shaft simultaneously and at the same rate of speed, a sleeve mounted on and frictionally engaging said second shaft for rotation thereby, a non-conductive element rigid with said sleeve, an electric conductor attached to said non-conductive element, a brush adapted to be engaged by said electric conductor once during every revolution thereof, a dial attached to the end of said sleeve at the opposite side of said frame from said hands, and a pointer attached to said shaft and cooperating with said dial and having a predetermined relationship to said hand that is attached to said gear wheel, whereby the position of the pointer with respect to the dial will indicate the time at which said conductor will engage said brush.

ARNO W. FOWLER. 

